Jacky

If one day in Knokke le Zout

I find I’m what I fear the most

a man who croons for croaking widows

& though I croon “Mi Corazon”

my voice a fake bandoneon

as Argentine as Monte Carlo

Though they call me Antonio

& I burn down my dying fires

for token trinkets of desire,

madam I do the best I’m able

I talk about virility

to matrons decked in finery

like tinsel-covered Christmas trees

& drink myself under the table

Safe in my drunkenography

each night I sing my maudlin song

pink elephants dance & sing along

about the time they called me Jacky

To be once more, for one hour only

to be once more, I don’t care when

to be once more, for just that one hour

so beautiful… & such a twat again

if maybe one day in Macao

I ran the city’s gambling hells

surrounded by adoring women

Or if my love of singing failed

& I took up instead blackmail

& I made others do the singing

& if they called me handsome Serge, &

I sold boats of Opium

& whisky from Clermont Ferrand

organic gays, recycled virgins

If all my fingers wore a bank

& pulled the strings in every land

till I was head of every state

I know that when each day was over

That in that mirror no-one sees

except the Chinese staff & me

I’ll sing my song, admission free

About the time they called me Jacky

To be once more, for one hour only

to be once more, I don’t care when

to be once more, for just that one hour

so beautiful… & such a twat again

 

If I wake up in Paradise

much to my very great surprise

& find my audience there one day

I’ll sing for them alleluia

regrets I’ve had more than a few

Not every day was always Sunday.

Even if they called me God

& in the phone book I’m between

Godalming & God Bless You

& I had grown the big white beard too

& even if too kind by half

I broke my heart & soul in half

to comfort people in their dark

I know that when each day was all through

in paradise like down below

the Angels, saints & Satan too

would sing that song from long ago

about the time they called me Jacky

to be once more, for one hour only

to be once more, I don’t care when

to be once more, for just that one hour

so beautiful… & such a twat again